Link
Game Notes:
I. -- It's the tackling. What's likely to make Rob Ryan's white hair white hot when he watches the game tape? His starting safeties tackling. Sure, we can harp on Abe Elam's missed pick on the Vikings' play, but he was in position to make the play.
Ryan got his guys in position to make plays all through that drive. Their failure to deal when in position will no doubt get worked on. From that first Vikings drive:
3rd and 1 -- The Vikings run Adrian Peterson to their right. He gets a small seam and cuts upfield. Gerald Sensabaugh meets him in the hole and slides by. Sean Lee makes a saving tackle from behind, or Peterson is gone. Conceding a first down run to Peterson is no crime, but when you're man-to-man in the hole, you need to slow the back down a bit.
Next play -- Ryan walks Elam up late off the left edge. He blitzes at the snap and has a shot at Peterson in the backfield. Elam goes low, misses and misses and ankle tackle, letting Peterson gain seven, instead of dropping him for a two yard loss.
The touchdown -- The Vikings run a three man route from a tight formation, with Bernard Berrian running a post route. He turns Sensabaugh on the fake, but Elam has the ball tracked. He slows down however and whiffs on his attempt at the pick.
One play happens. Three whiffs on a drive, will get you an earful from your coach, and long odds on a contract renewal in 2012.
II The Kids Did Alright -- Mostly
Big pre-game concern about the interior line, with kids Bill Nagy at left guard and Kevin Kowalski at center. These dids did a credible job. ( More on this in a minute.) The Vikings got a lot of early pressure on Tony Romo, but they did it mainly with their defensive ends. I pointed out in last night's notes that Vikings LE gave Tyron Smith trouble with an inside spin move. Smith had company. Cowboys LT Doug Free had a devil of a time with Pro Bowl end Jared Allen and his bag of tricks.
The Cowboys started using more two tight end sets after their short opening drive, giving the tackles help, either on chips or staying in to block. This gave Romo more time and helped the passing game click.
III. The Pancake
Kowalski didn't embarrass himself. He can point to this play with pride during tape review.
This is a 3rd-and-1 play in the 1st quarter. Kowalski has a nose tackle parked over him. Dallas goes to a balanced look from the 22 tank set, with Bennett at left TE and Jason Witten on the wing right. From a straight I, Dallas runs a zone play to the left side Kowalski gives a bit of ground, then gets the nose tackle rolling as they move to Kowalski's left. Bill Nagy is out in space on the linebacker. The other Vikings linebacker tries shooting through the backside gap to Kowalski's right:
Kowalski gets the nose tackle rolling backwards and when FB Shaun Chapas adds his muscle, Kowalski puts the NT on his back. Jones loses the stunting LB with a stutter move and leaps into the secondary for an eight-yard gain.
Kowalski is by no means guaranteed a roster spot, but plays like this will give him a chance.
Next: more on Rob Ryan's change-up play calling and the Cowboys new found red zone rushing attack.
Game Notes:
I. -- It's the tackling. What's likely to make Rob Ryan's white hair white hot when he watches the game tape? His starting safeties tackling. Sure, we can harp on Abe Elam's missed pick on the Vikings' play, but he was in position to make the play.
Ryan got his guys in position to make plays all through that drive. Their failure to deal when in position will no doubt get worked on. From that first Vikings drive:
3rd and 1 -- The Vikings run Adrian Peterson to their right. He gets a small seam and cuts upfield. Gerald Sensabaugh meets him in the hole and slides by. Sean Lee makes a saving tackle from behind, or Peterson is gone. Conceding a first down run to Peterson is no crime, but when you're man-to-man in the hole, you need to slow the back down a bit.
Next play -- Ryan walks Elam up late off the left edge. He blitzes at the snap and has a shot at Peterson in the backfield. Elam goes low, misses and misses and ankle tackle, letting Peterson gain seven, instead of dropping him for a two yard loss.
The touchdown -- The Vikings run a three man route from a tight formation, with Bernard Berrian running a post route. He turns Sensabaugh on the fake, but Elam has the ball tracked. He slows down however and whiffs on his attempt at the pick.
One play happens. Three whiffs on a drive, will get you an earful from your coach, and long odds on a contract renewal in 2012.
II The Kids Did Alright -- Mostly
Big pre-game concern about the interior line, with kids Bill Nagy at left guard and Kevin Kowalski at center. These dids did a credible job. ( More on this in a minute.) The Vikings got a lot of early pressure on Tony Romo, but they did it mainly with their defensive ends. I pointed out in last night's notes that Vikings LE gave Tyron Smith trouble with an inside spin move. Smith had company. Cowboys LT Doug Free had a devil of a time with Pro Bowl end Jared Allen and his bag of tricks.
The Cowboys started using more two tight end sets after their short opening drive, giving the tackles help, either on chips or staying in to block. This gave Romo more time and helped the passing game click.
III. The Pancake
Kowalski didn't embarrass himself. He can point to this play with pride during tape review.
This is a 3rd-and-1 play in the 1st quarter. Kowalski has a nose tackle parked over him. Dallas goes to a balanced look from the 22 tank set, with Bennett at left TE and Jason Witten on the wing right. From a straight I, Dallas runs a zone play to the left side Kowalski gives a bit of ground, then gets the nose tackle rolling as they move to Kowalski's left. Bill Nagy is out in space on the linebacker. The other Vikings linebacker tries shooting through the backside gap to Kowalski's right:
Kowalski gets the nose tackle rolling backwards and when FB Shaun Chapas adds his muscle, Kowalski puts the NT on his back. Jones loses the stunting LB with a stutter move and leaps into the secondary for an eight-yard gain.
Kowalski is by no means guaranteed a roster spot, but plays like this will give him a chance.
Next: more on Rob Ryan's change-up play calling and the Cowboys new found red zone rushing attack.